Saudi Blames Syria for Failure of Geneva Peace Talks

Saudi Arabia, which supports the rebels in Syria, on Monday blamed the Damascus government for the failure of peace talks in Geneva last week.

A second round of U.S. and Russian-backed peace talks between regime representatives and the opposition broke down on Saturday in the Swiss city with no date set for a third round.

The Saudi cabinet "regretted the failure of the Geneva II talks to reach tangible results," according to a statement carried by SPA state news agency.

The kingdom "holds the (Syrian) regime responsible for this failure, caused by its obstinacy," it said, accusing the government delegation of working to "derail the conference."

Saudi Arabia is a major backer of the Syrian rebels, in a conflict that is estimated to have killed more than 140,000 people since it broke out in March 2011.